Body composition and bone status of children born to mothers with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Background Altered growth, body composition and abnormalities of skeletal mineralisation have been reported in offspring of mothers with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Aims The authors hypothesised that children born to mothers with type 1 diabetes mellitus (CDM) would be taller, have higher body mass index (BMI), greater fat mass, thicker diaphyseal bone cortices and reduced trabecular bone mineral density (BMD), as compared to those born to non-diabetic mothers. Methods Anthropometric, body composition and bone parameters were assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and peripheral quantitative CT in 67 white Caucasian CDM (35 boys; age 5–18 years) and in 246 (121 boys) age-matched controls. Results CDM were taller (p Conclusion The authors speculate that the intrauterine diabetic environment is associated with an increase in linear growth, adiposity and larger bone dimensions during childhood and adolescence.